Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy has delivered a strong and passionate defence of Kieran Tierney, positioning the Scotland international as the standard-bearer for any potential new signings in the upcoming January transfer window.
Nancy's Defence of Tierney's Role and Fitness
The defender's form and physical condition have been under intense scrutiny this season following his emotional return to Celtic Park from Arsenal. While he has often struggled to complete full 90-minute matches, Tierney has demonstrated his value with several crucial goals, most notably a late winner against Aberdeen last weekend.
That goal sealed Celtic's first victory under Nancy at the fifth attempt, ending a run of four consecutive defeats. The French manager has been impressed with Tierney's application and believes the team's new three-at-the-back system could be perfectly suited to the 28-year-old, who has operated in a similar role for the national team.
"Everybody knows Kieran. I knew him before I came here. He’s an important player for us," stated Nancy.
Personality as the Key Transfer Metric
Nancy emphasised that leadership and character, exemplified by Tierney and captain Callum McGregor, are non-negotiable traits he will seek in any January recruits. He clarified that leadership isn't solely about being vocal, but about displaying the right attitude under pressure.
"Personality is key," Nancy asserted. "This is a big club. To play here is not always easy. It is so, so important to have players who can play here at a club like this."
He elaborated: "When I talk about personalities, it’s not only to be vocal, it’s to have the right attitude when it is difficult. This means when we attack, can we keep showing ourselves for each other, can we still press, or can we defend like crazy in the moment?"
Building Momentum After a Turbulent Start
Following the vital win over Aberdeen, Celtic now trail Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts by six points, though they retain a game in hand. Nancy's immediate focus is on building momentum, starting with a trip to face bottom-of-the-table Livingston today, followed by key fixtures against Motherwell and Rangers.
The manager admitted he will be more demanding of his squad, believing they have untapped potential. "I want to challenge them more because they have more potential than maybe they think," he said.
Today's match presents a new challenge for Nancy: his first experience of Livingston's artificial pitch and their physically direct style. He acknowledged the threat, particularly from set-pieces, but is determined his team will be ready.
"Set pieces are key now in modern football, especially here with the physicality," Nancy noted. "The idea first of all is to avoid set pieces if we can. Secondly, is to focus on the task and to compete with the big guys."
With the busy festive schedule underway, Nancy, for whom this period is a new experience, concluded by expressing his enthusiasm: "I love it. When I was in Europe or America, I was so happy to wake up and watch games. Now I am going to be part of the games."
